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As Hurricane Michael battered the panhandle Wednesday, candidates running for election in the mid terms suspended their campaigns and rolled into disaster response mode. But even as the eye of the storm came ashore, some attack ads were still flying… prompting cries of foul play.

A major hurricane- or any disaster- is a test of leadership. But what impact does a catastrophic storm have on a political campaign? And what about the impact of the storm on voter registration? Joining Intersection to talk about the political legacy of Hurricane Michael are Trimmel Gomes, host of The Rotunda podcast, Osceola County supervisor of elections Mary Jane Arrington and Aubrey Jewett, political science professor at the University of Central Florida.

Also on the show we hear from Republican candidate for Florida House District 47 Stockton Reeves, executive director of the Center for Public Safety- which focuses on research and planning for police, fire and other first responders building new facilities.

And Beemo has a new album: Bustin’ Out. Dan Harshbarger, Matt Juliano, Justin Braun & Tony Mickle join Intersection to perform the track Barricades, and talk about what’s next: performances that showcase the new album, sharing a stage with Brett Michaels and adding new instruments to deepen the sound of the band.

259 episodes available.
A new episode about every
3 days
averaging 49 mins duration
.

Florida space advocates were hit with a setback last week: the state is out of the running as a potential location for the new space command headquarters. So what’s next for the industry? On this episode of Intersection, we talk with Space Florida’s Dale Ketcham and 90.7 space reporter Brendan Byrne about why Florida could still have a chance t ...…

If you’re a reader looking to meet some of your favorite authors face to face- or a writer looking for tips on how to hone your craft- the Orlando Public Library has something for you this saturday. The Orlando Book Festival is a day long celebration of books. On this episode of Intersection we ask the library’s Sarah Fisk and author illustrato ...…

The media landscape is changing fast. In Public Radio, terrestrial radio is no longer the only means of distributing content. Six years ago, we weren’t telling listeners to ask their smart speaker to play WMFE- or NPR– and the explosion in podcasting has given audiences much more flexibility and freedom to choose what to listen to- and when. La ...…

Springtime in Florida- and love is in the air. Or at least lovebugs. Any kind of road trip through the sunshine state this time of year is usually accompanied by the percussive splatter of lovebugs hitting the windshield. So where do lovebugs come from and what are they doing here? How do they fit into the ecosystem of Florida, and what’s the b ...…

Republican lawmakers are reflecting on a successful legislative session, with wins on bills ranging from a new school voucher program to a bill allowing school teachers to be armed. Democratic lawmakers return from Tallahassee with less to celebrate. On this episode of Intersection, a conversation with Democratic State Representative Anna Eskam ...…

The 2019 legislative session is winding down, and bills are being sent to Governor Ron DeSantis to sign. Bills heading to the governor’s desk range from attempts to make the roads safer by cracking down on texting and driving to penalizing so-called Sanctuary cities. Lawmakers steered more money towards students in K through 12 classes, but pub ...…

Thad Seymour stepped in to lead the University of Central Florida after the resignation of UCF president Dale Whittaker. Seymour says he’s not interested in the job for himself long term, but he wants to help get the university back on track following the controversy over construction funding that let to Whittaker’s ouster along with the firing ...…

Sri Lanka is in a state of shock after last weekend’s bombings at churches and hotels. Authorities are blaming a Muslim extremist group for the attacks which killed and injured hundreds of people. On this episode of Intersection we talk to members of Central Florida’s close-knit Sri Lankan community about the impact of the attacks on their sens ...…

After the death of a Transportation Security Administration officer, Robert Henry, at Orlando International Airport in February, there’s been renewed scrutiny on what some employees have described as a culture of bullying at the TSA. The union for TSA workers is calling on the agency to end the pattern of of bullying and retaliation… and congre ...…

Victims of domestic violence can sometimes face an additional challenge: how to keep pets safe. Harbor House of Central Florida has a kennel for pets- which can help remove one of the barriers that stands in the way of someone trying to leave an abusive relationship. On this episode of Intersection, Harbor House CEO Michelle Sperzel explains th ...…

It’s been a big week for space news. SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy blasted off from Cape Canaveral last evening- thrilling spectators lining the roads to watch the launch. And for the first time, the private space company also stuck the landing for all three of its reusable boosters. Not so successful was an Israeli company’s mission to land a spacecra ...…

Sanctuary cities, arming teachers and restoring voting rights to felons who served their sentences are among the bills being tussled over in Tallahassee. With just under half of the session left- how will this legislature shape the laws of Florida? On this episode of Intersection, we check in on the legislative session with political analysts F ...…

There’s a push on capitol hill to make Puerto Rico the 51st state. The bill introduced by congressman Darren Soto, a Democrat from Central Florida, has bipartisan support. But there’s pushback from some who say a statehood bill ignores the will of the residents of Puerto Rico. On this episode of Intersection we talk to Soto about why he thinks ...…

A new report from the Marshall Project and the New York Times examines the case of Johnny Smith, a prisoner who died while being transported from Florida to Kentucky in 2011. The report also details the quest by Smith’s children to recover damages awarded by a judge. On this episode of Intersection, a conversation with Eli Hager, staff writer w ...…

One of the issues on the minds of lawmakers in Tallahassee this session is immigration… and there’s a bill making its way through the legislature to ban so-called sanctuary cities. A report from the News Service of Florida revealed that a hardline anti-immigration group worked with lawmakers to draft the bill. Meanwhile- the Sunshine State is t ...…

Central Florida is facing a severe shortage of affordable housing for low and extremely low income renters, according to a new report. Finding a place to live and taking care of all the other essentials is tough…but there is help for renters- and people looking to either buy a home or hold onto the one they own. On this episode of Intersection, ...…

The mass shootings one week ago at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, left 50 people dead and dozens wounded and plunged the country into mourning. The massacre also sent shockwaves through the Muslim community here in the United States. On this episode of Intersection- we take a closer look at the impact of a terror attack on a house of ...…

Boeing’s newest aircraft- the 737 Max – remains grounded after the second fatal crash in the space of just a few months. Boeing says its working with investigators to figure out what caused the Ethiopian Airlines crash this month… and the Lion Air crash last October. On this episode of Intersection we talk to former test pilot Clint Balog about ...…

Is Tallahassee really the best place for Florida’s state capital? State Senator Kevin Rader wants to study the idea of moving the capital to Orlando, partly to make it easier to get to. So where’s the best place for the state capital… and would it really make sense to move it? Miami already has an unofficial title of capital of Latin America, a ...…

A group of activists and historians has been working to recognize the victims of the Ocoee massacre on election day in 1920. The massacre wiped Ocoee’s African American community off the map, but the efforts of the Truth and Justice Project of Orange County aim to retell the history of that community. It’s also part of a nationwide movement to ...…

A lack of affordable housing, rising rent and a growing population makes it hard for many Central Floridians to find a home to fit their budget. The Sadowski fund- set aside for affordable housing- is typically used for other things. But governor Ron DeSantis is proposing to leave it alone this year, and affordable housing advocates are urging ...…

The environment, the economy and education are just a few of the big issues Governor Ron DeSantis has focused on since taking office in January. The governor delivers his first state of the state address Tuesday as the legislative session gets underway, laying out his goals for the session and his first year in office. On this episode of Inters ...…

SpaceX is preparing to launch its Crew Dragon to the International Space Station this weekend. The capsule won’t have astronauts on board for Saturday’s test run, but this is the spacecraft that will ferry astronauts into low earth orbit. On this episode of Intersection- we’re taking a closer look at the impact of private business on what was o ...…

Few states in the US are more vulnerable to climate change than Florida, but without a statewide policy – cities and municipalities have been left to deal with the impacts on their own. In a conversation recorded live at the WMFE studios, we discuss a year-long reporting project on climate change with 90.7 environmental reporter Amy Green, Trev ...…

The City of Orlando has been touted as a leader in the fight against climate change. This month Orlando was recognized by former New York City mayor and UN special envoy on climate change Michael Bloomberg for its use of climate friendly vehicles and solar arrays. Working to reduce emissions is one thing… but what about working to reduce waste? ...…

President Trump declared a National Emergency to free up more money to build a wall along the southern US border. The president made the announcement last week after agreeing to a funding deal to avoid another government shutdown. So how’s the declaration of emergency playing with lawmakers in Central Florida? On this episode of Intersection we ...…

The state attorney’s office for Orange and Osceola County completed a six month investigation into shots fired by law enforcement officers during the Pulse mass shooting in 2016. Their conclusion- none of the more than 180 shots fired by officers during the confrontation hit clubgoers. Orange County sheriff John Mina- who was chief of police at ...…

This week, Parkland marks one year since the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. On this episode of Intersection we look at how the school community is coping, how law enforcement agencies are using a new law to help them act on potential threats, and the connection between two cities affected by the trauma of a mass shooting. Fo ...…

Governor Ron DeSantis says he’s making addiction relief and mental health a top priority, calling for nearly $85 million to tackle the opioid epidemic in Florida. At the same time, central Florida leaders are banding together in a local effort called project opioid. On this episode of Intersection we explore how the approach of Orange, Seminole ...…

Governor Ron DeSantis promised a bold vision for Florida when he took office. And his first weeks on the job have been marked by some bold actions- reversing Florida’s course on smokable medical marijuana, pledging a big spending plan to help clean up the Everglades, and signaling an end to common core. The Governor’s also outlined what he want ...…

Governor Ron DeSantis is pledging $50 million for springs cleanup. Environmentalists have been sounding the alarm for years about the declining quality of Florida’s numerous springs and waterways. Nutrient pollution is clouding many of the state’s once clear springs. That’s a problem- not just for tourists and Floridians who flock to the spring ...…

The University of Central Florida is dealing with the fallout over misspending of more than $38 million in state money. The money was used to pay for construction of Trevor Colbourn Hall, which replaced an aging academic building. Bill Merck, the University’s former chief financial officer who lost his job over the incident, says the rules arou ...…

The Florida Supreme Court is poised to become the most conservative bench it has been in decades. Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed three new justices to the court. With Barbara Lagoa, Robert Luck and Carlos Muniz, the court’s expected to take a sharp turn to the right. On the campaign trail, DeSantis promised an end to so-called judicial act ...…

Florida’s clemency board has pardoned the Groveland four. Is that the end of the story, or do the families of the four men have more work to do in their quest for justice? On this episode of Intersection, we talk to Pulitzer prize winning author Gilbert King, whose book Devil in the Grove explores the miscarriage of justice in the 70 year old c ...…

The partial federal shutdown is now in its 4th week, and over 95% of NASA’s workforce is furloughed. That’s having a big impact on Florida’s space coast where most of the 2,000 servants who work in the space industry are sitting idle. On this episode of Intersection, we’re joined by 90.7’s space reporter Brendan Byrne and space policy analyst L ...…

President Trump spent the week making his case for a wall on the Southern US border. The president wants $5.7 billion for the wall. Amid his call for wall funding and congressional Democrats opposition, the federal government remains partially shut down. On this episode of Intersection, we take a closer look at the shutdown, and what effect the ...…

Ron DeSantis was sworn in as Florida’s 46th governor this week. Advocates for school choice and the environment have high hopes for the Republican former congressman: DeSantis campaigned on a platform of improving the state’s water quality, and he favors expanding the use of school vouchers. On this episode of Intersecion, we talk to Florida Tr ...…

After last year’s mass shooting in Parkland, parents, law enforcement, school leaders and lawmakers have been trying to figure out how to prevent the next school shooting. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School public safety commission sent its first report to Tallahassee this week- with recommendations including beefing up security and surve ...…

President Trump has ordered the creation of a US space command. A memo from the president authorizes the Defense Department to create a new command to oversee and organize space operation across all branches of the military. On this episode of Intersection, we take a closer look now at what the space command’s role will be and how it fits into ...…

Gilbert King won a pulitzer prize for his book Devil in the Grove- a deep dive into the case of four young African American men who were falsely accused of rape in 1949. Since that book was published, momentum has grown in the movement to pardon the Groveland four. King says he hadn’t planned to write another book about Lake County but when a f ...…

A driver’s license or state ID is essential for things like cashing a paycheck, housing and jobs, even getting a library card. But if you’re homeless, getting that ID, and the documents you need to establish your identity can be incredibly difficult. On this episode of Intersection, we revisit a conversation we first aired in 2016, with IDignit ...…

Recounts, upset victories and the end of an era for some elected leaders. With 2018 coming to a close, what can we expect from the next 12 months in Tallahassee and from Florida lawmakers heading to Washington? On this episode of Intersection, a look back at some of the biggest stories in Florida this year with political commentators Dick Batch ...…

Kyle Johnson says people who are blind are – in some ways- invisible, and he wants Floridians to recognize what they have to offer the community. Part of his strategy to do that is by growing the business which Lighthouse Central Florida operates with visually impaired staff. On this episode of Intersection, a conversation with the incoming CEO ...…

Republicans have controlled the legislative and executive branches of the Federal government for nearly two years. The mid-term election gave control of the house to the Democrats, but one goal the Republicans have had is to repeal the affordable care act. So what kind of shape is the affordable care act in right now? Funding’s been cut for nav ...…

The UCF Knights are riding high on a 25 game winning streak, but that wasn’t enough for the college football playoff semifinals. The Orlando Magic are off to a solid start this season… can they keep it up? And Orlando City failed to make the playoffs once more- what does the future for the soccer club look like? On this episode of Intersection, ...…

When it comes to religion, there’s been a rise of the nones: those who consider themselves atheists, agnostic or non affiliated with a religion. So what’s going on? On this episode of Intersection, 90.7’s Brendan Byrne takes a dive into the state of faith with the three wise guys from “Friends Talking Faith.” Of the women entering STEM careers ...…

Saturday is world AIDS day. The annual public health campaign began in 1988 as a way to draw attention to AIDS. In the last three decades, treatments for HIV infection have improved. What was almost always a fatal disease is now, with proper care, a manageable condition. But millions of people worldwide still live with HIV and last year one poi ...…

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York as a way to focus on charitable giving after the commercialism of black Friday and cyber Monday. So what kind of an impact does Giving Tuesday really have? What is compassion fatigue, and how does that translate into people’s charitable giving habits? On this ...…

The dust has settled after a gruelling mid term election and litigious recount. So what does the prospect of two Republican Senators from Florida mean for the sunshine state? How will Ron De Santis govern Florida? And what does the political landscape look like for Florida Democrats? On this episode of Intersection, we take stock of the mid-ter ...…

Florida’s mid-term election is finally over. The closely watched recounts in the race for Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner ended last Sunday and the results certified Tuesday. Rick Scott will be Florida’s next senator, and his fellow Republican Ron DeSantis heads to the Governor’s mansion, while Democrat Nikki Fried held onto a sli ...…

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